The Intergovernmental Council meets in Yellowknife – November 19, 2024

Date of Publication

November 19, 2024 (Yellowknife) - Leaders from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and nine Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories met in Yellowknife to discuss issues related to lands and resource management at the Intergovernmental Council meeting.

As a key feature of the Devolution Agreement, the Intergovernmental Council allows governments to cooperate and collaborate on matters related to lands and resource management. The meetings help strengthen the GNWT’s relationships with the Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories, a main priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Intergovernmental Council leaders discussed a range of items related to lands, water and resources, including how to better support the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat, the approach to administration and management of traditional use cabins on public land and updates on ongoing initiatives.

Leaders attending this meeting included:

  • Chief Eugene Hope, Acho Dene Koe First Nation
  • Vice-Chair Kelly McLeod, Gwich’in Tribal Council
  • Chief April Martel, Kátł’odeeche First Nation
  • President Garry Bailey, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
  • Vice-President Paul Harrington, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
  • Chair Charles McNeely, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
  • Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Alfonz Nitsiza, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Doreen Arrowmaker, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Chief Adeline Football, Tłı̨chǫ Government
  • Premier R.J. Simpson
  • Minister Caitlin Cleveland, Industry, Tourism and Investment and Education, Culture and Employment
  • Minister Jay Macdonald, Environment and Climate Change

MLA Denny Rodgers, representing the 20th Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, attended the meeting as an observer.

Quick Facts

  • The IGC is established by the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management.
  • The IGC allows governments to share ideas, discuss common priorities, and interests and explore ways to harmonize their respective land and resource management practices, share capacity and avoid duplication.
  • Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT committed to share up to 25% of its resource revenues with Indigenous governments that have signed on as partners. Since 2015, the GNWT has disbursed over $53 million to its Devolution partners.
  • In November 2020, the Intergovernmental Council agreed to a new legislative development protocol that respects the jurisdictions of all Intergovernmental Council members and provides opportunities for collaboration on the development of land and resource legislation and regulations in the Northwest Territories.

Links

For more information, contact:

Boyd Clark
Advisor/Band Manager
Acho Dene Koe First Nation 303-681-5171

Jamie Koe
Chief Executive Officer
Gwich’in Tribal Council
867-777-7900

Catherine Pate
Director of Communications
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
867-777-7000

Chief April Martel
Kátł’odeeche First Nation 867-874-6701

Ursula Vogt
Executive Director
Northwest Territory Métis Nation
867-872-2770

Elizabeth Westwell
Chief Executive Officer
Salt River First Nation 867-872-2986

Orlena Modeste
Executive Director
Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
867-589-4719

Carol Ann Chaplin
Senior Administrative Officer
Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation
(867) 394-4335

Tłı̨chǫ Government Media Relations
media@tlicho.ca
Tłı̨chǫ Government

EIA_FINcomms@govn.t.ca
Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Public Affairs and Communications Government of the Northwest Territories